TOOLS FOR OBSERVING THE OCEAN---- #geologist notepad

Observing the Ocean

The ocean can be observed and studied base on some terms of references,
these are:
Geological : This includes coastlines, bathymetry, sediment thickness.
Physics: Temperature, horizontal velocity, vertical velocity, Sea-surface height.
Biology: Productivity, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton, Fish and Egg counts, etc.
Chemistry: Salinity, Carbon, Nitrogen, Iron, Oxygen.

International Observational Programs
• Deep Sea Drilling Project - DSDP
• The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS)
• The World Ocean Circulation Experiment 1990-1998
• International Programme on Climate Variability and Predictability, 1995-present
• World Climate Research Programme.

Tools for Ocean Observing:

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP): measure velocity in ocean by
pinging sound waves and analyzing the return wave.

image source

ARGO floats: measure ocean Temperature and Salinity while drifting with ocean currents, surface regularly to communicate with satellites to transmit data.

Image source

Air-Sea Interaction Meteorology (ASIMET): measure ocean Temperature and Salinity, atmospheric wind, pressure, radiation, and precipitation; usually on oceanic buoys or research ship.

Image source

BIOMAPPER Studies plankton via sonar, video, and environmental measurements.

Image source

Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD): measures Temperature and Salinity.
(density ) in ocean
Notes:
√ Usually deployed off ship,
√ Data fed back to ship in real time.
√ Niskin bottles sample ocean water at predetermined depths.
√ “Casts” can take many hours.

Image source

Gravity Corer: Recover sediment core from ocean bottom.

Image source

Multi-beam Echo Sounder: measure ocean bathymetry with ship (10-5000m).

Image source

MOCNESS: multiple open and closing net with an environmental sampling system; used to collect plankton.

Image source

Magnetometer: Measure Magnetic Field In Ocean.

Image source

Radar Altimetry: Seafloor Mapping From Satellite On Ships & Soundings.

Image source

Ocean Bottom Seismometer: measure underwater earthquakes.

Image source

Sediment trap: collect falling sediments in ocean.

Image source

Alvin: A 3-person submersible that can dive to 4.5km.
Image source

Remote Sensing/Satellite Imagery:
Geostationary Server - http://www.goes.noaa.gov
Satellite significant events: http://www.osei.noaa.gov
National Geophysical Data Center: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ngdc.html
Technologies for Ocean Observing
Floating devices in the ocean:
Argo FLoats - http://www.argo.ucsd.edu
Drifter Programs: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/graphics/pacifictraj
Submarines &
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) :
Amazing discoveries…
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/subs/rov/rov.html
Automated Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) :